After submitting for seven years, I *finally* placed two poems at Passages North. As I’ve said before, persistence has been my tool of choice in the world of publications. This proves the tool is sturdy. For the past several rounds of submissions, I’ve received the hand-written note to try again. This year, I first received an email stating that the editors liked my work but wanted me to send one more batch before making a final decision. I’ve never had that happen before, but dutifully, I mailed off five more poems. It turns out that the two selected were from this second group, and I am thankful to the readers and editors at the journal who took the time to reach out and work with me.

One last note: I’ve been feeling a bit of a geek for studying the AWP schedule and drafting a game plan. I even made my own calendar in excel so I could pencil in panels and readings/signings I do not want to miss. Today, while catching up on reading blogs, I must have read three or four written by people admitting to this very activity, advocating it actually. Writer geeks unite!

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Posted by Sandy Longhorn

7 comments

From what I hear, you need a spreadsheet in order not to be overwhelmed by AWP!

Love your poems at Terrain.org–and your reading! And what wonderful company you're in.

Congratulations on Passages North! After years of form slips from one of my favorite journals, I've recently been upgraded to encouraging notes; I hope my story has as good an ending as yours! Hooray for you!

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Sandy Longhorn

Little Rock, AR -
I am the author of three books of poetry. My most recent book, The Alchemy of My Mortal Form, won the 2014 Louise Bogan Award from Trio House Press. My other books include The Girlhood Book of Prairie Myths (Jacar Press) and Blood Almanac (Anhinga Press). I received my MFA from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville and my BA in English from the College of St. Benedict. I teach at the University of Central Arkansas in the Arkansas Writers MFA Program, where I direct the C.D. Wright Women Writers Conference.